King Rex no longer reigns, at least not on local store shelves. In a settlement with the Rex organization, which brought suit claiming trademark infringement, the redundantly named Los Angeles liquor distributor has agreed to stop producing products with that name and remove them from shelves in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama

King Rex vodka bottles on a local store shelf last month Judy Walker, NOLA Media Group | The Times-Picayune

The company, King Rex Spirits, also agreed to stop using the Rex organization's imagery, traditions and history in marketing its products, said Andrew Rinker, the lead attorney for the king of Carnival's krewe.

It also signed over to the Rex organization all of its federally registered King Rex trademarks, Rinker said Tuesday, thereby ensuring that no one will be able to use them again.

To soften the economic blow to the company, the settlement lets King Rex Spirits sell the vodka for the next year in the states not covered by the agreement, and for the next 18 months elsewhere.

Even though King Rex Spirits has to give up the right to sell its namesake vodka, "I think the settlement is a great settlement," said Sal Ortiz, King Rex Spirits' president and chief executive officer.

Ortiz, who said he had not heard of the Rex organization before the suit, said he spoke favorably about the settlement because it shows neither side bears any ill will toward the other side.

King Rex's attorney proposed the settlement during a trial Friday before U.S. District Judge Jane Triche Milazzo, Rinker said.

"We're very happy to have it all resolved," he said.

No money changed hands in the settlement, Rinker said, but King Rex Spirits agreed to donate $1,000 to the Pro Bono Publico Foundation, a Rex organization initiative that supports charter schools. The foundation takes its name from the krewe's motto, which means "for the public good."

"The important thing," Rinker said, "is that Rex was able to establish its international rights to its trademarks, trade rights and trade names when connected to Mardi Gras activities."

"We have no ill will toward the Rex organization," Ortiz said, adding that he realized that the krewe had to sue to protect its trademarks.

"They were covering their backs," he said.

Initially, 800 cases of King Rex vodka had been ordered locally, he said, but when the Rex organization filed suit last month, 650 cases were sent back.